What the bookmaker licence types on the GRA list mean

The Gambling Control Act, 2025 names four bookmaker licences: on-the-course, off-the-course, both, and online. Online gambling has its own three licences, one of which is the online bookmaker's. The public GRA list shows a BK number but does not say which type it is.

By Nairobi Football Editorial (prepared with AI tools under our editorial policy) · Last updated 2026-10-08

Licence types and where the law names them

Bookmaker

In the Licensing Regulations, 2026 (regulation 2), a person who carries on, occasionally or regularly, the business of receiving and negotiating bets. Football betting through a betting shop or an app is bookmaking.

On-the-course licence (s.58(a))

Authorises a person to carry on the business of a bookmaker at any authorised race meeting. It is about racecourses, not football.

Off-the-course licence (s.58(b))

Authorises bookmaking at any authorised betting premises, which is the shop model.

Combined licence (s.58(c))

Authorises bookmaking both on and off the course.

Online bookmaker's licence (s.58(d), s.67(1)(a))

Covers betting through remote communications. Section 67(1) lists three online licences: online bookmakers, online lottery and online casino. A company offering football bets by app or website needs the first.

Promoter's licence for a pool betting scheme (s.61)

A separate licence, issued for one pool betting scheme at a time. Football jackpots are a pool product.

Licence duration

The Fourth Schedule to the Licensing Regulations gives bookmaking three years, new or renewed, and online gambling one year, new or renewed. Section 31(3) of the Act sets thirty-six months "or such other period as may be prescribed in regulations".

Security (Third Schedule to the Act)

KES 100,000,000 for online gambling and KES 20,000,000 for non-online gambling including non-online bookmakers. A shop operating under an online licence is listed at KES 500,000.

BK, PG and PL on the GRA list

Column headings for bookmaker, public gaming and public lottery licence numbers in the list for the 2025/26 trading period. The list does not say which section 58 type a BK number is, so ask the Authority if that matters.

How to use this

A BK number is the one to look for when the product is football betting. The step-by-step licence check shows how to match the company, brand and domain, and the copy of the list entries is dated. Only the regulator's live page counts. Gambling is addictive, so play responsibly. 18+ only.